Stepping foot on the grounds of Carnival Beach, Ancol last Saturday, our souvenirs revoked the very same event series in the very place, the Embassy Playground 2008.

Originally intended to be a regular annual festival, the Playground, promoted by Embassy Group's offspring Urbanite, had needed a longer time to wrap up its 2009 edition, following Embassy Club's closure in January this year.

The eighteen months separating the two events were used mainly to prepare a festival targeted for a much larger audience, Urbanite hoping to embrace a wider public by inviting more band groups rather than just keeping the performers strictly in the electronica dance domain.

Some returnees from Embassy Club's previous events were to be seen on Playground 2009 line-ups: Peter Hook of New Order playing his DJ set, singer/MC/DJane Vika Kova, along with some extra names from DJmag's Top 100, such as Alexander Coe alias DJ Sasha, one of the world trance masters, Johan Gielen, The Thrillseekers and Chicane, as well as several other internationals such as the Drum Connection, Kevin Yost and Mixhell.

To top the electronic dance music performers, Embassy Playground 2009 also invited Franz Ferdinand, the most happening band in England between 2003-2005. Franz Ferdinand, if not that extremely famous and hot anymore in the world, was to be seen for the first time ever in Indonesia, therefore causing a great public attraction.

From the homegrown side, Embassy lined up names familiar with the Embassy era itself: from ex resident Embassy Jakarta now turned head of Embassy Jogja, the veteran DJ Remy Irwan, Balcony's faithful DJ Ai Tumbuan of Whitelands, the AgriKulture, DJ Ical, as well as C.U.T.S., The Sigit, and several more names.

And if last year it had been the Dutch Silent Disco with its sensational silent area where the music was only to be heard through headphones, this year it was the East European Novak 3D Disco™, attiring curiosity through the 3D glasses and visual effects.

On Saturday, 4 PM, the intensity of the event was already flowing in the air. Fans gathering in front of the entrance, the queue was getting longer each minute.

We checked in with our press IDs generously given by the EPG 2009 committee. Clutching the EOS, several pocket cameras and big tote bags containing spare clothes (in case it would rain) we passed the security check smoothly, forward we moved together with the human wave.

As usual, following the Playground traditions, there were stages named after venues in the late Embassy Club Jakarta, categorizing the genres according to what was served in the club's heyday: smaller Balcony and Wonderbar stages accompanying the main Embassy stage.

We noticed the stages were a bit smaller compared to last year's - perhaps to boost intimity and let the performers being closer to their audience? We also liked this stage arrangement, though, letting you to be nearer with the artists.

Quickly checking the fest area, we then headed to Balcony to see Peter Hook. New Order old fella in his Hawaiian shirt looking happy to be back, with his anthem set, and the crowd seemed to like his choice of songs.

After about half an hour there, we moved forward to the next stop: the Novak 3D Disco™. Stacks and stacks of blue and red 3D glasses were ready - we grabbed what we needed and we were all set to dance.

The effects oddly reminded us of the 3D trend in the 1980s, like the ones you'd see in Disneyland, but it was really fun. As for the music, Novak 3D bore much resemblance to Silent Disco - them being more sort of radio DJs rather than real club DJs. We found both the music and the visuals highly amusing.

Next destination, Chicane. We stayed there awhile, but then the blaring music and the buzzing of people moving toward the main Embassy stage alerted us - it was almost FRANZ FERDINAND!

FF was the most anticipated one, of course - too bad his showtime conflicted with DJ Sasha's. We opted to be at Embassy main stage, bearing in mind that this would be the first time we see FF, while DJ Sasha already came last year.

Flowing anthem songs from Franz Ferdinand inviting the crowd to jump, dance and sing along - it was overall a great show.

After Franz Ferdinand was over, we went back to see Mixhell, before at 5 AM decided to end our journey in the Embassy Playground 2009.

We Love

Franz Ferdinand! The ambience, and the crowd, was really really great.

We Remember

The Embassy Club in its heyday - Playground 2009 allowed us to reminisce the glory days of Jakarta's best club at its time.

See you next year!